19-year-old Sam Mayer is driving more like a 29-year-old NASCAR veteran. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
LAS VEGAS – Sam Mayer has been one of the emerging superstars during this NASCAR Xfinity Series.
While the 19-year-old Franklin, Wisconsin native has his tough moments, he races like a seasoned veteran on his best race days.
Moreover, he is maturing and applying what he learned in past races with his Xfinity Series Playoffs efforts with his No. 1 Accelerate Pro Talents Chevy Camaro.
After placing eighth at Texas, second at Talladega and 11th at the Charlotte ROVAL, the JR Motorsports sophomore sensation finds himself in the Round of 8 alongside his teammates Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry and Noah Gragson.
Although one of his team principals, Dale Earnhardt Jr., did not reward Mayer with a t-shirt about advancing into the Round of 8, he is certainly thrilled to advance into the penultimate Playoffs round.
Mayer tallied a resectable average result of 7.0 during the Round of 12 races. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
Ahead of Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Mayer showcased his No. 1 car’s speed and consistency.
Posting the seventh fastest time in pre-qualifying practice, Mayer logged the fifth fastest effort in qualifying.
Prior to a stellar qualifying effort, Mayer considered the progress of his team’s cars. Similarly, the fresh faced driver mulled over what his team needed to compete for the championship.
“Las Vegas is a track that we have shown speed at, but just haven’t had any luck to go with it,” Mayer said in a team press release. “Starting the Round of 8 this weekend, we need to have both pace and luck.”
Suffice to say, Mayer illustrated his car’s pace during Friday’s evening practice and qualifying rounds. Moreover, Mayer and his crew chief, Taylor Moyer, keep working diligently on extracting the maximum from his Camaro on race weekends.
“Taylor and this Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions team are working hard to make sure we show up with a fast Chevrolet,” he said. “Hopefully we can put ourselves in contention to fight for the win and get into the Championship 4.”
